1
VOCABULARY
1. aa a dry form of lava resembling clinkers
2. abacinate blind by holding a red-hot metal
plate before someone's eyes
3. abactinal (of radiate animals) located on the
surface or end opposite to that on which the
mouth is situated
4. abseil (mountaineering) a descent of a vertical
cliff or wall made by using a doubled rope that
is fixed to a higher point and wrapped around
the body
5. abulia a loss of will power
6. acarpous producing no fruit
7. acaulescent (of plants) having no apparent
stem above ground
8. adust dried out by heat or excessive exposure
to sunlight
9. afflatus a strong creative impulse; divine
inspiration
10. affray a noisy fight
11. agnail a loose narrow strip of skin near the
base of a fingernail
12. aide-de-camp an officer who acts as an
assistant to a more senior officer
13. albedo the ratio of reflected to incident light
14. aleatory dependent on chance
15. ambage a style that involves indirect ways of
expressing things
16. ambuscade the act of concealing yourself and
lying in wait to attack by surprise
17. amphibrach a metrical unit with unstressed-
stressed-unstressed syllables (e.g.,
`remember')
18. anacoluthia an abrupt change within a
sentence from one syntactic structure to
another
19. anaglyph anything carved in low relief. And
like those old comic books, the effect created
using Kodak’s anaglyph glasses is poor, and
virtually unviewable after a few seconds. —
New York Times (Jan 13, 2011)
20. anapestic characterized by two short syllables
followed by a long one
21. anaphora repetition of a word or phrase to
begin successive clauses
22. anchorite one retired from society for religious
reasons
23. anele administer an oil or ointment to
24. anile of or like a feeble old woman
25. anlage an organ in its earliest stage of
development
26. aperient mildly laxative
27. apheresis (linguistics) omission at the
beginning of a word as in `coon' for `raccoon'
or `till' for `until'
28. apoapsis the point in an orbit farthest from
the body being orbited
29. apocope abbreviation of a word by omitting
the final sound or sounds
30. apodeictic of a proposition; necessarily true or
logically certain
31. apologetics the branch of theology that is
concerned with the defense of Christian
doctrines
32. apologue a short moral story (often with
animal characters)
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33. apophatic of or relating to the belief that God
can be known to humans only in terms of
what He is not (such as `God is unknowable')
34. aposiopesis breaking off in the middle of a
sentence
35. apotropaic having the power to prevent evil or
bad luck
36. architrave the molding around a door or
window
37. arenaceous resembling or containing or
abounding in sand
38. Arhat a Buddhist who has attained nirvana
39. armiger a nobleman entitled to bear heraldic
arms
40. arrant without qualification; used informally
as intensifiers
41. arriviste an ambitious social climber or status
seeker
42. ashlar a rectangular block of hewn stone used
for building purposes
43. asseverate state categorically
44. assurgent growing or extending upward
45. ataraxia peace of mind
46. athwart across the course, direction, or center
line of a ship
47. atrabilious irritable as if suffering from
indigestion
48. attainder cancellation of civil rights
49. Augean extremely filthy from long neglect
50. auric of or relating to or containing or derived
from gold
51. auspicate indicate by signs
2
52. autogamy self-fertilization in plants
53. automysophobia a morbid fear of being dirty
54. autotomy spontaneous removal or casting off
of a body part (as the tail of a lizard or claw of
a lobster) especially when the organism is
injured or under attack
55. aweigh (used of an anchor) hanging clear of
the bottom
56. backsheesh a relatively small amount of
money given for services rendered (as by a
waiter)
57. banausic (formal) ordinary and not refined
58. batrachian any of various tailless stout-bodied
amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping;
semiaquatic and terrestrial species
59. batrachomyomachia a silly altercation
60. belletristic written and regarded for aesthetic
value rather than content
61. benedict a newly married man
62. bewray reveal unintentionally
63. bezel a sloping edge on a cutting tool
64. bezique a card game played with a pack of
forty-eight cards
65. billingsgate foul-mouthed or obscene abuse
66. bleb an elevation of the skin filled with serous
fluid
67. boffo resoundingly successful and popular
68. bolide an especially luminous meteor
(sometimes exploding)
69. bonce informal terms for a human head
70. bootless unproductive of success
71. boreal toward or located in the north
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72. brachiation swinging by the arms from branch
to branch
73. brassard armor plate that protects the arm
74. Brobdingnagian huge
75. bruit tell or spread rumors
76. brumal characteristic of or relating to winter
77. brumous filled or abounding with fog or mist
78. buccula a fold of fatty tissue under the chin
79. bumf reading materials (documents, written
information) that you must read and deal with
but that you think are extremely boring
80. burke get rid of, silence, or suppress
81. buskin a boot reaching halfway up to the knee
82. Buteo broad-winged soaring hawks
83. caitiff a cowardly and despicable person
84. callathump
a noisy mock serenade to a newly married couple
85. canorous richly melodious
86. cantabile smooth and flowing
87. cantle the back of a saddle seat
88. caparisoned clothed in finery
89. capriole a playful leap or hop. Then he went
through about a thousand of the wildest
caprioles that had ever been performed either
by a bird or a horse. — Hawthorne, Nathaniel
90. catachresis strained or paradoxical use of
words either in error (as `blatant' to mean
`flagrant') or deliberately (as in a mixed
metaphor: `blind mouths')
91. catenulate having a chainlike form
3
92. cenobite a member of a religious order living
in common
93. cerement burial garment in which a corpse is
wrapped
94. cerulean deep blue like the color of a clear sky
95. cerumen a soft yellow wax secreted by glands
in the ear canal
96. chaffer talk socially without exchanging too
much information
97. chancery an office of archives for public or
ecclesiastic records
98. chaparral dense vegetation consisting of
stunted trees or bushes
99. chapfallen brought low in spirit
100. chasuble a long sleeveless vestment worn
by a priest when celebrating Mass
101. chatelaine a chain formerly worn at the
waist by women
102. chatoyant varying in color when seen in
different lights or from different angles
103. chilblain inflammation of the hands and
feet caused by exposure to cold and moisture
104. chirk make a shrill creaking, squeaking, or
noise, as of a door, mouse, or bird
105. chirk up become cheerful
106. chiromancy telling fortunes by lines on the
palm of the hand
107. chrestomathy a selection of passages from
different authors that is compiled as an aid in
learning a language
108. cicatrice a mark left by the healing of
injured tissue
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109. Cimmerian intensely dark and gloomy as
with perpetual darkness
110. cincture a band of material around the
waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers
111. circinate shaped like a ring
112. claver talk socially without exchanging too
much information
113. clerestory part of an interior wall rising
above the adjacent roof with windows
admitting light
114. clerisy an educated and intellectual elite
115. clinquant glittering with gold or silver
116. coadjutor an assistant to a bishop
117. cockade an ornament usually worn on the
hat
118. cocotte a small casserole in which
individual portions can be cooked and served
119. concordat a signed written agreement
between two or more parties
120. consistory a church tribunal or governing
body
121. consuetude a custom or usage that has
acquired the force of law
122. contemn look down on with disdain
123. corsair a swift pirate ship (often operating
with official sanction)
124. cortege the group following and attending
to some important person
125. corvee unpaid labor (as for the
maintenance of roads) required by a lord of
his vassals in lieu of taxes
126. costive retarding evacuation of feces;
binding; constipating
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127. courgette marrow squash plant whose
fruit are eaten when small
128. crapulous given to gross intemperance in
eating or drinking
129. crenel one of a series of rounded
projections (or the notches between them)
formed by curves along an edge (as the edge
of a leaf or piece of cloth or the margin of a
shell or a shriveled red blood cell observed in a
hypertonic solution etc.)
130. crepitate make a crackling sound
131. cromlech a prehistoric megalithic tomb
typically having two large upright stones and a
capstone
132. cumber hold back
133. cunctation the act of procrastinating
134. curandero a Mexican man who practices
healing techniques inherited from the Mayans
135. cygnet a young swan
136. cyprian resembling the ancient orgiastic
worship of Aphrodite on Cyprus
137. daedal complex and ingenious in design or
function
138. dastard a despicable coward
139. davit a crane-like device for suspending or
lowering equipment
140. decollate cut the head of
141. decollete (of a garment) having a low-cut
neckline
142. defalcate appropriate fraudulently to one's
own use
143. degust taste with relish
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144. deliquesce melt or become liquid by
absorbing moisture from the air
145. demarche a move or step or maneuver in
political or diplomatic affairs
146. demimondaine a woman whose sexual
promiscuity places her outside respectable
society
147. demiurge a subordinate deity, in some
philosophies the creator of the universe
148. descant talk at great length about
something of one's interest
149. devitrify become crystalline
150. devoir formal expression of respect
151. dighted dressed or adorned (as for battle)
152. dint force or effort
153. discalced barefoot or wearing only sandals
154. discountenance look with disfavor on
155. dithyramb a passionate hymn
156. doxy a woman who cohabits with an
important man
157. duenna a woman chaperon
158. durance imprisonment (especially for a
long time)
159. eagre a high wave caused by tidal flow
160. eclat brilliant or conspicuous success or
effect
161. eclogue a short poem descriptive of rural
or pastoral life
162. eidetic of visual imagery of almost
photographic accuracy
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163. eidos (anthropology) the distinctive
expression of the cognitive or intellectual
character of a culture or a social group
164. embouchure the aperture of a wind
instrument into which the player blows
directly
165. embrasure an opening for firing through
166. embrocate administer an oil or ointment
to
167. emulous characterized by or arising from
imitation
168. enfeoffment under the feudal system, the
deed by which a person was given land in
exchange for a pledge of service
169. entrepot a port where merchandise can be
imported and then exported without paying
import duties
170. epigone an inferior imitator or follower of
someone
171. epistaxis bleeding from the nose
172. epithalamium an ode honoring a bride and
bridegroom
173. eremite a Christian recluse
174. eructation a reflex that expels gas noisily
from the stomach through the mouth
175. espadrille a cloth sandal with a sole made
of rope
176. estivation cessation or slowing of activity
during the summer
177. etiolate make weak by stunting the growth
or development of
178. etymon a simple form inferred as the
common basis from which related words in
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several languages can be derived by linguistic 195. froward habitually disposed to

processes disobedience and opposition
179. euphuism any artificially elegant style of 196. frowsty stale and unclean smelling
language
197. fulgurous amazingly impressive
180. exordium the introductory section of an
198. funambulism walking on a tightrope or
oration or discourse
slack rope
181. fabian using cautious slow strategy to wear
199. fustian pompous or pretentious talk or
down opposition
writing
182. fain having made preparations
200. fustigate strike with a cudgel
183. falcate curved like a sickle
201. galere a coterie of undesirable people
184. famulus a close attendant (as to a scholar)
202. gallimaufry a motley assortment of things
185. fardel a burden (figuratively in the form of
203. gamine a homeless girl who roams the
a bundle)
streets
186. fen low-lying wet land with grassy
204. gasconade an instance of boastful talk
vegetation
205. gavage feeding that consists of the delivery
187. fillip something that acts as a stimulus
of a nutrient solution (as through a nasal tube)
188. finical exacting especially about details to someone who cannot or will not eat
189. flamen a priest who served a particular 206. Gehenna a place where the wicked are
deity in ancient Rome punished after death
190. flocculate form into an aggregated lumpy 207. gelid extremely cold
or fluffy mass. The washing would be very
208. gharry a horse-drawn carriage in India
likely to have a decided flocculating effect and
so render this material more friable when 209. ghat stairway in India leading down to a
applied to the field. — King, F. H. (Franklin landing on the water
Hiram)
210. gimcrack tastelessly showy
191. footling (informal) small and of little
211. glabrous having no hair or similar growth;
importance
smooth
192. foulard a light plain-weave or twill-weave
212. Golgotha a hill near Jerusalem where Jesus
silk or silklike fabric
was crucified
193. freshet the occurrence of a water flow
213. Gordian extremely intricate; usually in
resulting from sudden rain or melting snow
phrase `Gordian knot'
194. friable easily broken into small fragments
or reduced to powder

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214. grampus predatory black-and-white
toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common
in cold seas
215. haecceity the essence that makes
something the kind of thing it is
216. halberd a pike fitted with an ax head
217. hapax legomenon a word with a special
meaning used for a special occasion
218. haulm stems of beans and peas and
potatoes and grasses collectively as used for
thatching and bedding
219. hawser large heavy rope for nautical use
220. hebdomad any period of seven
consecutive days
221. hebetude mental lethargy or dullness
222. hegira a journey by a large group to escape
from a hostile environment
223. hiemal characteristic of or relating to
winter
224. hieratic associated with the priesthood or
priests
225. hobbledehoy an awkward bad-mannered
adolescent boy
226. hogget a sheep up to the age of one year;
one yet to be sheared
227. homiletics the art of preaching
228. horripilation reflex erection of hairs of the
skin in response to cold or emotional stress or
skin irritation
229. hoyden a girl who behaves in a boyish
manner
230. hyaline resembling glass in transparency or
translucency
7
231. hypostatize construe as a real existence, of
a conceptual entity
232. hypothecate pledge without delivery or
title of possession
233. icosahedron any polyhedron having
twenty plane faces
234. imbrue permeate or impregnate
235. incalescence the property of being
warming
236. incarnadine redden or make flesh-colored
237. incommensurable impossible to measure
or compare in value or size or excellence
238. inculpate suggest that someone is guilty
239. involution the act of sharing in the
activities of a group
240. jackanapes someone who is unimportant
but cheeky and presumptuous
241. jaconet a lightweight cotton cloth with a
smooth and slightly stiff finish; used for
clothing and bandages
242. jactitation a false boast that can harm
others
243. jactitation (pathology) extremely restless
tossing and twitching usually by a person with
a severe illness
244. janissary a loyal supporter
245. kerygma preaching the gospel of Christ in
the manner of the early church
246. khamsin an oppressively hot southerly
wind from the Sahara that blows across Egypt
in the spring
247. kiang wild ass of Tibet and Mongolia
248. kibe ulcerated chilblain on the heel
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249. kith your friends and acquaintances 269. lipogram a text that excludes a particular
letter or particular letters of the alphabet
250. knackered very tired
270. logomachy an argument about words or
251. koine a common language used by
the meaning of words
speakers of different languages
271. lollop move or walk clumsily and with a
252. kopje a small hill rising up from the African
bounce
veld
272. longanimity good-natured tolerance of
253. lacustrine of or relating to or living near
delay or incompetence
lakes
273. longueur a period of dullness or boredom
254. lagniappe a small gift given by a merchant
to a customer 274. loupe small magnifying glass used by
jewelers and horologists
255. lambent softly bright or radiant
275. lucubration laborious cogitation
256. lammergeyer the largest Eurasian bird of
prey 276. luculent (of language) transparently clear;
easily understandable
257. lancinating painful as if caused by a sharp
instrument 277. macaronic mixing two languages,
especially Latin and another language
258. legerity the gracefulness of a person or
animal that is quick and nimble 278. mackle a printed impression that is blurred
or doubled
259. lenify cause to be more favorably inclined;
gain the good will of 279. maenad a woman participant in the
orgiastic rites of Dionysus
260. lenitive moderating pain or sorrow by
making it easier to bear 280. magus a member of the Zoroastrian
priesthood of the ancient Persians
261. lenity mercifulness as a consequence of
being lenient or tolerant 281. mahout the driver and keeper of an
elephant
262. leptorhine having a long narrow nose
282. maieutic method a method of teaching by
263. leveret a young hare especially one in its
question and answer
first year
283. major-domo the chief steward or butler of
264. liege a feudal lord entitled to allegiance
a great household
and service
284. majuscule one of the large alphabetic
265. ligneous consisting of or containing xylem
characters used as the first letter in writing or
266. limacine of or resembling a slug printing proper names and sometimes for
emphasis
267. limen the smallest detectable sensation
268. lingulate shaped like a tongue
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285. malik the leader of a town or community
in some parts of Asia Minor and the Indian
subcontinent
286. malmsey sweet Madeira wine
287. maltha a thick black tar intermediate
between petroleum and asphalt
288. malversate appropriate fraudulently to
one's own use
289. manse the residence of a clergyman
290. marl a loose and crumbling earthy deposit
consisting mainly of calcite or dolomite; used
as a fertilizer for soils deficient in lime
291. marmoreal of or relating to or
characteristic of hard crystalline rock
292. matutinal pertaining to or occurring in the
morning
293. maunder wander aimlessly. All hands
being aft, the skipper maundered forrard, to
find his further progress stopped by this rope.
— Bullen, Frank T.
294. mentum the protruding part of the lower
jaw
295. metheglin spiced or medicated mead
296. metonymy substituting the name of a
feature for the name of the thing
297. mews street lined with buildings that were
originally private stables but have been
remodeled as dwellings
298. minacious threatening or foreshadowing
evil or tragic developments
299. misology hatred of reasoning
300. mistral a strong north wind that blows in
France during the winter
301. moil work hard
9
302. monophony music consisting of a single
vocal part
303. morganatic (of marriages) of a marriage
between one of royal or noble birth and one
of lower rank; valid but with the
understanding that the rank of the inferior
remains unchanged and offspring do not
succeed to titles or property of the superior
304. muckle (often followed by `of') a large
number or amount or extent
305. muliebrity the state of being an adult
woman
306. mumpsimus a traditional notion that is
obstinately held although it is unreasonable
307. murrain any disease of domestic animals
that resembles a plague
308. mussitate talk indistinctly; usually in a low
voice
309. myrmidon a follower who carries out
orders without question
310. nacre the iridescent internal layer of a
mollusk shell
311. nard an aromatic ointment used in
antiquity
312. neap tide a less than average tide
occurring at the first and third quarters of the
moon
313. nevus a blemish on the skin that is formed
before birth
314. niffy (British informal) malodorous
315. nimiety a quantity much larger than is
needed
316. niminy-piminy affectedly dainty or refined
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317. nitid bright with a steady but subdued
shining
318. nonage any age prior to the legal age
319. nonesuch model of excellence or
perfection of a kind
320. notional being of the nature of a notion or
concept
321. nous that which is responsible for one's
thoughts and feelings
322. nucha the back side of the neck
323. numen a spirit believed to inhabit an
object or preside over a place (especially in
ancient Roman religion)
324. objurgate censure severely
325. oblation the act of contributing to the
funds of a church or charity
326. obnubilate make less visible or unclear
327. odalisque a woman slave in a harem
328. oneiric of or relating to or suggestive of
dreams
329. onomastics the branch of lexicology that
studies the forms and origins of proper names
330. ophidian limbless scaly elongate reptile;
some are venomous
331. oppugn challenge the accuracy, probity, or
propriety of
332. orangery a place where oranges are grown
333. oscitance an involuntary intake of breath
through a wide open mouth
334. palanquin a closed litter carried on the
shoulders of four bearers
335. palter be deliberately ambiguous or
unclear in order to mislead
10
336. panatela a long slender cigar
337. pandiculation yawning and stretching (as
when first waking up)
338. pandurate having rounded ends and a
contracted center
339. panjandrum an important or influential
(and often overbearing) person
340. Paraclete the third person in the Trinity
341. paronomasia a humorous play on words
342. parturition the process of giving birth
343. parvenu a person who has suddenly risen
to a higher economic status
344. pawky cunning and sly
345. peculate appropriate fraudulently for one's
own use
346. pediment a triangular gable between a
horizontal entablature and a sloping roof
347. pelisse a sleeveless cape that is lined or
trimmed with fur
348. pennate having feathered wings
349. penstock regulator consisting of a valve or
gate that controls the rate of water flow
through a sluice
350. peripety a sudden and unexpected change
of fortune or reverse of circumstances
(especially in a literary work)
351. periphrasis a style that involves indirect
ways of expressing things
352. peristyle a colonnade surrounding a
building or enclosing a court
353. pettifoggery a quarrel about petty points
354. pharisee a self-righteous or sanctimonious
person
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355. phatic speech conversational speech used 372. prevenient in anticipation

to communicate sociability more than
373. prink dress very carefully and in a finicky
information
manner
356. picaresque (of fiction) involving clever
374. procurator a person authorized to act for
rogues or adventurers
another
357. pinnace a boat for communication
375. propaedeutic preceding and preparing for
between ship and shore
something
358. pirogue a canoe made by hollowing out
376. proselyte a new convert; especially a
and shaping a large log
gentile converted to Judaism
359. platitudinarian a bore who makes
377. ptosis drooping of the upper eyelid caused
excessive use of platitudes
by muscle paralysis and weakness
360. pleasance a pleasant and secluded part of
378. ptyalism excessive flow of saliva
a garden
379. puberulent covered with fine soft hairs or
361. plenipotentiary a diplomat who is fully
down
authorized to represent his or her government
380. pule cry weakly or softly
362. pogey money received from the state
381. purblind having greatly reduced vision
363. politesse courtesy towards women
382. purlieu an outer adjacent area of any place
364. polysemy the ambiguity of an individual
word or phrase that can be used (in different Or place that one inhabits
contexts) to express two or more different
383. pyknic having a squat and fleshy build
meanings
384. quiddity the essence that makes
365. Pongo type genus of the family Pongidae:
something the kind of thing it is
orangutans
385. quidnunc a person who meddles in the
366. porphyria a genetic abnormality of
affairs of others
metabolism causing abdominal pains and
mental confusion 386. quietus euphemisms for death
367. porphyry any igneous rock with crystals 387. quiff a prominent forelock
embedded in a finer groundmass of minerals
388. qui vive condition of heightened
368. poseuse a woman poseur watchfulness or preparation for action
369. pother an excited state of agitation 389. quondam belonging to some prior time
370. preterite a term formerly used to refer to 390. raddled showing the wearing effects of
the simple past tense overwork or care or suffering
371. pretermit disregard intentionally or let 391. raffish marked by a carefree
pass unconventionality or disreputability
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392. raillery light teasing 410. sacerdotal associated with the priesthood
or priests
393. rale a rapid series of short loud sounds
411. salmagundi cooked meats and eggs and
394. rappee strong snuff made from dark coarse
vegetables usually arranged in rows around
tobacco
the plate and dressed with a salad dressing
395. rebarbative serving or tending to repel
412. salver a tray for serving food or drinks;
396. recherche lavishly elegant and refined usually made of silver

397. recusant someone who refuses to conform 413. saporous full of flavor
to established standards of conduct
414. scholium a marginal note written by a
398. rede give advice to scholiast

399. refection a light meal or repast 415. sciolism pretentious superficiality of

knowledge
400. relict an organism or species surviving as a
remnant of an otherwise extinct flora or fauna 416. sclaff strike (the ground) in making a sclaff
in an environment much changed from that in
417. scupper drain that allows water on the
which it originated
deck of a vessel to flow overboard
401. rescission the cancellation of a contract
418. secern mark as different
402. resile spring back; spring away from an
419. sempiternal having no known beginning
impact
and presumably no end
403. res ipsa loquitur a rule of evidence
420. seneschal the chief steward or butler of a
whereby the negligence of an alleged
great household
wrongdoer can be inferred from the fact that
the accident happened 421. seppuku ritual suicide by self-
disembowelment on a sword
404. Rhadamanthus (Greek mythology) a judge
of the dead in the underworld 422. seraglio a harem
405. rive tear or be torn violently 423. serail living quarters reserved for wives
and concubines and female relatives in a
406. roan having a brownish coat thickly
Muslim household
sprinkled with white or grey
424. serried pressed together
407. roister engage in boisterous, drunken
merrymaking 425. shirr bake (eggs) in their shells until they
are set
408. rood representation of the cross on which
Jesus died 426. skint lacking funds
409. sacculated formed with or having saclike 427. slumgullion a thin stew of meat and
expansions vegetables

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428. soutane a long cassock with buttons down
the front
429. sparge scatter with liquid; wet lightly
430. spavined (of horses) afflicted with a
swelling of the hock-joint
431. spicule small pointed structure serving as a
skeletal element in various marine and
freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges and
corals
432. spoliation the act of stripping and taking
by force
433. stager an experienced person who has
been through many battles
434. steatopygia an extreme accumulation of
fat on the buttocks
435. stilly (poetic) still or calm
436. stipule a small leafy outgrowth at the base
of a leaf or its stalk
437. stoma a mouth or mouthlike opening
438. strapado a form of torture in which the
hands are tied behind a person's back and
they are lifted off the ground by a rope tied to
their wrists, then allowed to drop until their
fall is checked with a jerk by the rope
439. subfusc devoid of brightness or appeal
440. sudorific inducing perspiration
441. sumptuary regulating or controlling
expenditure or personal behavior
442. supernal of heaven or the spirit
443. supervene take place as an additional or
unexpected development
444. surd a consonant produced without sound
from the vocal cordsAgain, he points out that
the surd aspirate h is heard in some languages,
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but is hardly audible in others.
— Ukers, William H. (William Harrison)
445. sutler a supplier of victuals or supplies to
an army
446. swale a low area (especially a marshy area
between ridges)
447. syllepsis use of a word to govern two or
more words though agreeing in number or
case etc. with only one
448. sylph a slender graceful young woman
449. syndactyly connecting two or more fingers
or toes
450. synecdoche birth defect in which there is
partial or total webbing using part of
something to refer to the whole thing
451. syrinx the vocal organ of a bird
452. tannoy a loudspeaker
453. taradiddle a trivial lie
454. taradiddle pretentious or silly talk or
writing
455. tarn a mountain lake, especially one
formed by glaciers
456. Tartarus a place where the wicked are
punished after death
457. tatterdemalion a dirty shabbily clothed
urchin
458. tellurian of or relating to or inhabiting the
land as opposed to the sea or air
459. temerarious presumptuously daring
460. termagant a scolding, nagging, bad-
tempered woman
461. thanatopsis an essay expressing a view on
the subject of death
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462. thaumaturgist one who practices magic or
sorcery
463. theurgy the effect of supernatural
intervention in human affairs
464. tilth aggregation of soil and its condition
for supporting growth
465. tincture a substance that colors metals
466. tisane infusion of e.g. dried or fresh
flowers or leaves
467. tittup to walk with a lofty proud gait, often
in an attempt to impress others
468. tosh pretentious or silly talk or writing
469. transom a horizontal crosspiece across a
window or separating a door from a window
over it
470. transude release (a liquid) in drops or small
quantities
471. trencherman a person who is devoted to
eating and drinking to excess
472. truckle a low bed to be slid under a higher
bed
473. trumpery ornamental objects of no great
value
474. tumidity slight swelling of an organ or part
475. twee excessively or affectedly dainty,
sentimental, or refined
476. ukase an edict of the Russian tsar
477. ullage the amount that a container lacks of
being full
478. umbilicus a scar where the umbilical cord
was attached
479. urticate sting with or as with nettles and
cause a stinging pain or sensation
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480. usufruct a legal right to use and profit from
someone else's property
481. valetudinarian weak or sickly person
especially one morbidly concerned with his or
her health
482. vambrace cannon of plate armor
protecting the forearm
483. vaporing an instance of boastful talk
484. velleity desire in its weakest form. But in
this particular, it was impossible for her to go
beyond velleities.
— Lespérance, John
485. vermicular decorated with wormlike
tracery or markings
486. vermiculation the process of wavelike
muscle contractions of the alimentary tract
that moves food along
487. verruca a firm abnormal elevated blemish
on the skin
488. vibrissa a long stiff hair growing from the
snout or brow of most mammals as e.g. a cat
489. vigesimal relating to or based on the
number twenty
490. vilipend belittle
491. volute ornament consisting of a curve on a
plane that winds around a center with an
increasing distance from the center
492. welkin the apparent surface of the
imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies
appear to be projected
493. xeric being deficient in moisture
494. yob a cruel and brutal fellow
495. zymurgy the branch of chemistry
concerned with fermentation
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 15

496. syncope the loss of sounds from within a

word
497. hadal relating to the deepest parts of the
ocean
498. lese majesty a crime that undermines the
offender's government
499. asyndeton omission of conjunctions where
they would normally be used
500. nescient uneducated in general; lacking
knowledge or sophistication

Prepared by:

Miss Rina C. Constantino

JHS Teacher

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